How to set your iPhone or iPad wallpaper

Setting the wallpaper on your iOS device, whether it be an iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone, is a great way to personalize your device. This short guide will show you how to customize your wallpaper on your iPhone or iPad.

Changing your wallpaper on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch is a great way to customize the look of your device. Starting with iOS 4, Apple allowed users to set their lock screen wallpaper, as well as the wallpaper of the home screen. This simple guide will show you how to set one or both of these wallpapers.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani
Screen of the Settings app on the iPad with Wallpaper selected.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani

First you will need to go into the Settings app on your iOS device. Once you have launched the Settings app, tap on the Wallpaper option.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani

If you are using an iPhone or iPod Touch, you will see a screen similar to the one above, if you are using an iPad you won't be taken to a new screen, the option will just be presented to the right of the Wallpaper option.

Here you can see what screens you can change. In this case, with the device running on iOS 4, we can change both the lock screen and the home screen. Tap on this giant button to proceed.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani

On this screen you have the option of using one of the default wallpapers preinstalled on the device, or you can choose a picture you have taken or saved to your device. Look through your pictures, once you find one you would like to use, tap on it.

Set the wallpaper on your iPhone
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani
Set the wallpaper on your iPad
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani

The next screen you will see allows you to view what the picture will look like set as your wallpaper. On this screen you can zoom in or out (using pinch-to-zoom), as well as move the picture around to fit best on your screen. Once you are done, you can press the Set button on your iPhone.

Once you press Set, you will be asked what screen you would like this picture to show up on, as seen below. You can set a different picture for each screen, or set the same picture for both-- the choice is yours.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani

On the iPad you can press the Set Lock Screen, Set Home Screen, or Set Both buttons located at the top of the screen.

You will see a dialog popup while your device is processing the change, and a confirmation dialog once the change is completed. Please note, if you are on iOS 3 or below, you will only be able to change your lock screen wallpaper.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani

You are now able to change one or both of your wallpapers on your iPhone or iPad, customizing your device and showing off some of your favorite pictures.